Liquid proportioning, mixing, and dispensing machine



Dec. 1924- 1,520,664

A. B. WALTERS ET AL LIQUID PROPORTIONING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINEOriginal Filed Sept. 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Z2706 122/35 7 a. EWalter's and 11 471,868 famzuzdwv.

Dec. 23, 1924. 1,520,664

, A. B. WALTERS ET AL LIQUID PROPORTIONING, MIXING, AND DISPENSINGMACHINE Original Filed Sept. 1'7, 1925 3 $heets$heet 2 .Zhaezzfozs. a. EWalters d 11 a made/L.

A. B. WALTERS ET AL LIQUID PROPORTIONING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINEOriginal Filed Sept. 1'7, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet I;

and a/WWI? Patented Dec. 23, 1924i.

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ARTHUR B. WALTERS A111) FRANK A. MADDEN, .OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AS-.SIGNORS T SODA SERVICE CORPORATEON', OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A COR-POBAELION O'F MISSOURI.

LIQUID PROPORTIONING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MAGHINE.

Application filed September 17, 1923, Serial No. 663,128. Renewed June14,. 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR B. WALTERS and FRANK A. MADDEN, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Kansas City, county of Jackson,State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inLiquid Proportioning, Mixing, and Dispensing Machines, of which thefollowing is a complete specification.

This invention relates to mixed-drink dispensing machines, and moreespecially to apparatus for use with a paper-cup dispenser and a coincontrolled mechanism whereby a person is enabled to draw his own drinkby the insertion of the proper coin and moving of a handle or the like,and the primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanismwhereby carbonated water from one source and syrup from another sourcemay, in fixed proportions, be measured, mixed, and delivered from anozzle as a finished drink without human agency other than thatnecessary to set the mechanism in operation.

Another object is to provide means for automatically regulating the rateof flow of the carbonated water regardless of the pressure thereof, toinsure the delivery of a fixed quantity of such water and, mixedtherewith, of a fixed proportionate quantity of syrup. A still furtherobject is to provide means whereby the operator upon effecting thefunctioning of the mechanism, immediately loses control as regards thepossibility of obtaining more than a set quantity oi the drink, throughone cycle of operations of the mechanism.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel anduseful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafterdescribed and claimed; and in order that it may be fully'understoodreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is an elevational view of mechanism embodying the invention, a shelf ofa cabinet enclosing the mechanism, being shown in section.

F i re 2 is a vertical section on the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the dotted line III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on the dotted line IV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on the dotted line V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of part of the mechanism.

Figure 7 is a detail view to show more clearl certain operative parts.

Re erring now to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates a tube leading fromthe cooling coil of a pressure tank (not shown) containing carbonatedwater. The tube is coupled to the upper end of a stand pipe 2 dependinginto tank 3. Within the tank and connected to pipe 2, is a casing 4having a downwardly-facing valve seat 5, and an upwardly-facing seat 5*,and leading from the casing 4 between the valve seats, is a passage 6 incommunication with a cylinder 7 having a restricted discharge opening 8at its lower end in communication with the tank 3. A hollow piston 9fits in and closes the upper end of the cylinder and is providedexternally with a channel 10, and a series of ports 11 extending fromthe channel to the interior of the piston which is open at its lowerend. The tank 3 has a discharge opening 12 at its lower end incommunication with a conduit 13 opening into a receptacle partitioned toprovide a water chamber 14 and a syrup chamber 15, the former being incommunication with the conduit 13. A valve cage 16 open at each end,depends into the open chamber from the bottom of a syrup tank 17, whichis otherwise air-tight, so that syrup cannot accumulate inchamber 15above the lower end of the valve ca e.

A valve 17 extends slidingly throug the valve cage and is adapted toclose the upper end of the said cage against escape of syrup from thetank, until the latter is in operative v position, such that when thetank is in position, the valve is unseated through its stem restingon'the bottom of chamber 15, so that syrup can flow down throu h thecage into the com artment 15 until it seals the lower end.

of t e cage, a variation in the height of such end of the cage providingfor an increase or decrease in the uantity of syrup to be dispensed at asing e operation mixed with the carbonated water.

the length of the valve stembeing A water pipe 18 extends upward fromthe lower part of chamber 14 and a similar syrup pipe 19 extends upwardfrom the chamber 15 into a siphon chamber 20, and extending downwardfrom said siphon chamber is a discharge pipe 21, the said pipepreferably extending through a partition or shelf 22 of the cabinet (notshown) containing the mechanism, the shelf serving as a support for thetanks and connections. A cup 23 underlies said shelf to receive thedischarge from pipe 21, and is provided with a discharge pipe or nozzle24 for delivering the mixed. drink to a paper cup or the like, (notshown) accessible from the exterior of the cabinet.

A valve 25 is normally seated against the valve seat 5, to closecommunication between the supply of carbonated water and the piston andcylinder. The valve is mounted upon the upper end of a rod 26 extendingdown through the casing 4, and a protecting tube 27 leading bypreference, to a point below the shelf 22, and said rod rests upon anadjusting screw 28 mounted in a rocker bar 29 pivotally supported at oneend by fixed hanger brackets or arms 30. A retractile spring 31 connectsthe rocker bar with a fixed point of the machine and is adapted to holdthe valve seated with a. pressure suflicient to resist that of thecarbonated water.

The free end of the rocker bar 29 is con nected to a toggle, comprisinga member 32 pivoted to said bar and a member 33 pivoted to supportingears or hangers 34, and projecting from the member 33 is a lever 35equipped with head 36 provided with a beveled tooth 37. A pair of fixedears 38 constitute bearings for a shaft 39 extending parallel with theaxis of rocker bar 29, and said shaft 39 is provided at one end with adepending crank arm 40 having a lon itudinal slot 41 bridged at thelower end by a pivot 42 upon which is mounted a catch 43'. The tooth ofthe catch is of beveled type so that it can be engaged and repressed bythe beveled tooth of head 36 when the lever 35 is swung upward in amanner hereinafter explained. The catch is provided with a stop arm 44to limit the projection of its tooth from the crank arm 40, and a spring45 attached to the crank arm, holds the catch with itstooth yieldinglyprojected as indicated in Figure 5, in the path of the tooth 37. A lever46 keyed on shaft 39 and adapted for vertical movement, extends througha vertical slot 47 in cup 23, and

terminates at its inner end in a perforated spoon 48 underlying thedischarge end of pipe 21. The opposite end of said lever is ofsufiicient weight to normally hold the spoon elevated, as indicated inFigure 3, with the crank arm 40 in such position that the tooth 37 mustengage and repress tooth 43 in the upward movement of lever 35, thespring 45 returning the tooth 43 immediately to position so astounderlie the tooth 37 and thus retain the lever 35 in its elevatedposition, as indicated by the elevated position of the head 36 in dottedlines in Figure 5. It will be understood that to swing the lever 35upwardly as explained, it is necessary to impart downward swingingmovement to the rocker bar and to accomplish this the followingmechanism is provided.

A shaft 50 extending parallel with shaft 39, is journaled in a pair offixed arms 49, and is equipped near one end with a pair of oppositeradial arms 51, 51, the former being adapted for engagement with one endof a cross pin 52 secured in an arm 53 pivoted on shaft 50, the otherend of pin 52 being adapted under the rotation of said shaft, to engagelever 35 and raise'it to the elevated position referred to and shown inFigure 7 To effect rotation of shaft 50 as explained and in thedirection indicated by the arrow, Figure 4, a pull cable 54 is securedto a grooved pulley 55 journaled on shaft 50, the cable also engaging anidler pulley 56, journaled in fixed lugs 57. The cable is operable by alever or the like, (not shown) but accessible atthe exterior of thecabinet. A second grooved wheel 58 is rigid with pulley 55, and attachedto wheel 58 is a cable 59, connected to a retractile spring 60 for apurpose hereinafter explained.

A pawl 61 is pivotally mounted on the pulley or wheel 58, preferably thelatter, as shown, and a spring 62 holds the pawl in yielding engagementwith a ratchet wheel 63 rigidly mounted on shaft 50, so that when cable54 is pulled the said shaft shall be turned sufficiently to tension aretractile spring 64, by the revolution of a crank arm 65 rigidlysecured to the shaft 50, said spring being connected to a block 66swivelled to said crank arm. The tension of said spring as the outer endof the crank arm passes the axis of the shaft under the pull on cable54, eflects continued revolution of the crank and shaft and thuscausesarm 51 to engage and lift-lever 35 and effect the opening of valve25, this occurring regardless of the fact that the pull on cable 54 iscontinued. The catch'43, as explained, latches the lever 35 in itselevated position until the discharging drink trips said catch andpermits the spring 31 to reseat the valve and restore the said lever toits normal or lowered position, it being noted that the valve 25 is uponseat 5" while the water is flowing from the coil, to prevent leakagethrough pipe 27 The turning of the pulley 55 and wheel 58 by the pullcable 54, operates cable 59 on wheel 58, to tension retractile spring 60connected at its opposite ends to said spring and a fixed point, so thatwhen the ull on the cable 54 is released, the pulley an wheel one of theintake openings and means shall be returned by the reaction of spring tonormal position and thus set the pawl for engagement with the ratchetwheel when cable 54 is pulled to eflect the discharge of a second drink.

The carbonated water begins to flow immediately the valve 25 is unseatedand the quantity delivered to the tank 3 is always tie same, because ifit flows at a eater velocitythan can be accommodated y the restricteddischarge opening 8 of the cyl-- inder, it accumulates in the latter andraises the piston until the supply is cut off through the passage 6. Asa result a. uniform quantity of the water is always delivered to chamber14, sufiicient to overflow pipe 18 and enter the vacuum chamber and passdown through the discharge pipe 21.

As this action occurs, a vacuum is produced to draw syrup from chamber15 up through pipe 19 and such syrup mixes with the carbonated water andflows therewith as a mixed drink through. the pipe 21, the,

flow ceasing as the water siphon is broken at the lower endof pipe 18.The impact of the mixed drink on the spoon, depresses the same andthereby rocks shaft 39 and swings the crank-arm 40 to withdraw the toothof catch 43 from the path of lever 35, and as this occurs the tensionedspring 31 reelevates the rocker bar and through the toggle, lowers thesaid lever, the reelevation of the rocker bar effecting the reseating ofthe valve on seat 5, it being noted that this action occurs immediatelyafter the discharge of the mixed drink begins, and that the dischargecontinues thereafter until thevacuum is broken, as above explained.

As hereinbefore stated this mechanism is peculiarly appropriate for usewith coincontrolled mechanism, as with the use of.

such control it is necessary to relax cable 54 before it can again bepulled for effecting a repetition of the operation described, it beingunderstood however, that the operation of the invention is not dependenton association with coin-controlled mechanism or automatic means fordisposing a cup or the like under the discharge nozzle.

It will be apparent. that the invention is susceptible of modificationin various particulars within the principle of construction and mode ofoperation involved, without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

1-. In a machine of the character described, a chamber having adischarge opening and a pair of intake openings, a receptacle holding aliquid to a level for sealifng or supplying another liquid from adifferent source, to overflow the other intake opening and the dischargeopening and thereby produce a vacuous condition, in said chamber andsiphonic action from the receptacle,

until the siphonic action is broken by the exposure of the said otherintake opening to the entrance of air through the exhaustion of thesupply of liquid to said openmg.

2. In a machine of the characterdescribed, a chamber having a dischargeopening and a pair of intake openings, a receptacle holding a liquid toalevel for sealing one of the intake openings and means for supplyinganother liquid from a different source, to overflow the other intakeopening and the discharge opening and thereby produce a vacuouscondition in said chamber and siphonic action from the receptacle, andmeans to automatically cut oil? the supply of the vacuum-producingliquid to expose the said other intake opening to the admission of airto break the siphonic action.

3. In a machine of the character described, a chamber having a dischargeopening and a pair of intake openings, a receptacle holding a liquid toa level for seal: ing one of the intake openings and means for supplyinganother liquid from a different source, to overflow the other intakeopening and the discharge opening and thereby produce a vacuouscondition in said chamber and siphonic action from the receptacle, andmeans actuated by the discharge of liquid from the vacuum chamber,

to cut off the supply of the vacuum-producing liquid to expose the saidother intake opening to the admission of air to break the siphonicaction from the said receptacle.

4:..In a machine of the character described, a pair of receptacles fordifferent liquids, a chamber having a pipe depending into eachreceptacle, and a discharge pipe, means for charging one receptacle withliquid to a .level intermediate the length of the pipe depending intosuch receptacle, and means for supplying liquid to the other receptacleto a plane higher than the upper ends of the other depending pipe andsaid discharge pipe,

5. In a machine of the character described, a pair of receptacles fordifferent liquids, a chamber having a pipe depending into eachreceptacle, and a discharge pipe, means for charging one receptacle withliquid to a level intermediate the length of the pipe depending intosuch receptacle, means for supplying liquid to the other receptacle to aplane higher than the upper ends of the other depending pipe and saiddischarge pipe, and means actuated by discharging liquid toautomatically determine the quantity of liquid supplied to said otherreceptacle.

6. In a machine of the character de- &

scribed, a pair of receptacles for diiferent liquids, a chamber having apipe depend ing into each receptacle, and a discharge pipe, means forcharging one receptacle with liquid to a level intermediate the lengthof the pipe depending into such receptacle, means for supplying liquidto the other receptacle to a plane higher than the upper ends of theother depending pipe and said discharge pipe, and means forautomatically determining the quantity of liquid necessary to besupplied to said other receptacle to reach the said plane, regardless ofthe rate of flow from the point of supplyiv 7. In a machine of thecharacter described, a pipe for delivering liquid under pressure, avalve normally closing said pipe, a cylinder provided with a restricteddischarge opening, means having a port normally communicating with thedeliyery pipe at the opposite side of the valve from the delivery pipeand with the cylinder, and means to unseat the valve to opencommunication between the delivery pipe and the said port; said portedmeans being adapted under excess pressure supplied to the cylinder tooperate to close communication between the pipe and cylinder.

8. In a machine of the character described, a pipe for delivering liquidunder pressure, a valve normally closing said pipe, a cylinder providedwith a restricted discharge opening, means having a ort normallycommunicating with the de 'very pipe at the opposite side of the valvefrom the delivery pipe and with the cylinder, means to unseat the valveto o 11 communication between the delivery pipe and the said port; saidported means being adapted under excess pressure supplied to thecylinder to operate to close communication between the pipe andcylinder, and means to secure the valve in unseated position.

9. In a machine of the character described, a pipe for delivering liquidunder pressure, a valve normally closing said pipe, a cylinder providedwith a restricted discharge opening, means having a port normallycommunicating with the delivery pipe at the opposite side of the valvefrom the delivery pipe and with the cylinder, means to unseat the valveto open communication between the delivery pipe and the said port; saidported means being adapted under excess pressure supplied to thecylinder to operate to close communication between the pipe andcylinder, means to secure the valve in unseated position, and meansactuated by the discharge of the liquid delivered to the cylinder, totrip the valve-securing means to effect reseatlng of the valve and therestoration of the ported means to normal position. i

10. In a machine of the character described, a pipe for deliveringliquid under pressure, a valve normally closing said pipe, a cylinderprovided with a restricted discharge opening, means having a portnormally communicating with the delivery pipe at the opposite side ofthe valve from the delivery pipe and with the cylinder, means to unseatthe valve to open communication between the delivery pipe and the saidport; said ported means being adapted under excess pressure supplied tothe cylinder to operate to close communication between the pipe andcylinder, means to secure the'valve in unseated position, and meansactuated by the discharge of the liquid from the cylinder, to take up afixed quantity of a second liquid and mix it with the first.

11. In a machine of the character described, a pipe for deliveringliquid under pressure, a valve normally closing said pipe, a cylinderprovided with a restricted dis charge opening, means having a portnormally communicating with the delivery pipe at the opposite side ofthe valve from the delivery pipe and with the cylinder, means to unseatthe valve to open communication between the delivery pipe and the saidport; said ported means being adapted under excess pressure supplied tothe cylinder to operate to close communication between the pipe andcylinder, means to secure the valve in unseated position, means actuatedby the discharge of the liquid from the cylinder, to take up a fixedquantity of a second liquid and mix it with the first, and meansactuated by discharge of the liquid as mixed, to trip the securing meansand permit the valve to. be reseated.

12. In a machine of the character described, a supply pipe for liquidunder pres- 1 sure, a valve closing said pipe, manuallyoperable means tounseat the valve, means for latching it in unseated condition, meansactuated by the liquid after the valve is unseated, to trip the latchingmeans, and means to automatically reseat the valve to cut off the supplyof liquid from said pipe.

13. In a machine of the character described, a supply pipe for liquidunder pres-- sure, a valve closing said pipe, manually operable means tounseat the valve, means for latching it in unseated condition, areceptacle vfor another liquid, means whereby the flow of the firstliquid shall efi'ect siphonic'action of liquid from the receptacle andthe mixture of such liquids, means actuated by the flow of the mixedliquids to trip the latching means, and means to automatically reseatthe valve to cut off the supply of the liquid from the supply pipe.

14. In a machine of the character described, a supply pipe for liquidunder pressure, a valve for said pipe, a receptacle,

means for automatically maintaining a yieldingly-actuated rocker bar forseating the valve, a shaft, yielding means for holding the shaft in andfor restorin it to a certain position, manually-operab e means to turnthe shaft a partial revolution in opposition to said yielding shaftholding and restoring means, means actuated by the shaft to trip thevalve from its seat, means to latch the valve in tripped position, meansactuated by the liquid released by the unseating of the valve, fortripping the latching means to permit the rocker bar to reseat thevalve, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a spring-actuated pawlrotatable around the ratchet wheel, and spring-actuated means to returnthe pawl to normal position as the revolution of the shaft isautomatically completed by said yielding shaft holding and restoringmeans.

In witness whereof We hereunto aflixour 20 signatures.

ARTHUR B. WALTERS. FRANK A. MADDEN.

